Blue Hens Extend Winning Streak To Five With Doubleheader Sweep at La Salle, 3-0 and 5-1

PHILADELPHIA -- Blue Hen pitchers Kiersten Coffman and Kelly Lupton combined on a shutout in the opener while UD rallied for four runs in the seventh inning during the nightcap as the University of Delaware softball team swept a doubleheader from La Salle, 3-0 and 5-1, Thursday afternoon at West Campus Field.

The Blue Hens, who have now won a season-high five straight games, swept their second twinbill in as many days while improving to 14-16 on the year. La Salle dropped to 11-12 on the campaign following the pair of losses.

The opener remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, but the Blue Hens pushed across the only three runs of the game. With one out in the frame Carolyn Szymanski drilled a solo home run to leftcenter, her team-leading fourth longball of the year. Delaware had the bases loaded with two outs later in the inning when Jessica Grisler reached on an error by Explorers third baseman Christina Bascara, allowing two more runs to cross the plate.

Coffman and Lupton would do the rest, combining on a six-hit shutout to seal the victory. Coffman allowed six hits and struck out seven while not walking a batter in 5.2 innings of work to improve to 2-2 on the year, while Lupton fired 1.2 frames of hitless ball to notch her second save of the campaign.

La Salle attempted to rally in the bottom of the sixth as the Explorers loaded the bases with two down, but Lupton retired Erica Reis on a pop out to second to escape the jam. Lupton then set down three of the four batters she faced in the seventh to secure the win.

Delaware opened the scoring in the top of the first during the nightcap as Grisler led off with a single to right, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Danielle Wissinger, and scored on a double to rightcenter by Giovanna Kolofer. However the Explorers drew even during the second when Suzanne Swanicke led off with a double and scored two outs later on an RBI single to left by Marisa Kinneer.

The game remained tied at 1-1 until the top of the seventh, when the Blue Hens exploded for four runs to take control. George ignited the rally with a one-out single up the middle, and after Grisler reached on an error, Wissinger ripped a double to leftcenter to chase home George with the go-ahead run. Kolofer then singled to right to drive home two more runs, while the final run scored when Stacevicz reached on another La Salle error.

Szymanski, then retired the Explorers in order during the bottom half, earning the win while improving to 8-8 on the year. Szymanski gave up just three hits and struck out five during four innings of scoreless relief, after starter Abby Cline was charged with one earned run on three hits in three innings of work.

Kolofer finished 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored for Delaware, Grisler was 2 for 4 with two runs scored, and George added two more hits while scoring a run.

The Blue Hens return home on Saturday to host Colonial Athletic Association rival Drexel in a key league doubleheader beginning at 12 noon at the UD Softball Stadium.